Governor concerned over rising diabetes cases

Mumbai, Oct 15: Maharashtra Governor S M Krishna has expressed grave concern over the increasing number of amputations in the country due to diabetes.

An estimated 40,000 amputations occur every year in the country due to diabetes, the Governor pointed out at the inaugural function of the 5th annual national conference of the Diabetic Foot Society of India (DFSI) here yesterday.

DFSI president Dr Arun Bal, however, pointed out that the figure was just an estimate and the matter could be more serious as the World Health Organisation has opined that India could become the ''Diabetic Capital'' in the next 20 years.

Most diabetic foot problems can be prevented if there is awareness among the medical fraternity as well as among the people, DFSI organising chairman Dr Suresh Methalia said.

DFSI organising secretary Dr Sanjay Vaidya rued that people with diabetes do not pay much attention to their feet as they do not have much sensation in this part of the body. Wounds are neglected leading to complications and even amputation, he pointed out.

''The singlemost effective method for prevention of foot ulcer in diabetes is by using scientifically made footwear,'' Dr Bal informed.

The two-day conference will dwell on various subjects like the right footwear, new medicines and inventions, research papers on diabetic foot and effective solutions for the problems that such patients face.

UNI